You've heard the talk about stocks, bonds, and indexes, and if you're like most people, that jargon is enough to send you running. But here’s the truth: Your journey to financial independence does not need to start in the volatile stock market. 

According to Nasdaq, the total cost of the American Dream — housing, college, transportation, childcare — has more than doubled for Millennials and Gen Z compared to what Boomers paid. And that’s after adjusting for inflation.